Page 125 of The Kidnapped

“I think you should read the cards when you’re ready, but she helped people who went through what she was going through. They’re very grateful to her.”

“I didn’t know that,” Hollis said, tears welling in her eyes.

Raleigh took her hand and asked, “Do you want to see the rest of them?”

“Yeah,” Hollis said.

After they walked around the house, with Raleigh pointing out some of the ways she had to get creative with water vessels for the plants, they left with more clothes for Hollis and the stack of cards for her to read when she was ready to take it all in.

“You used the toothbrush holder?” Hollis said, laughing a little.

It was the first time Raleigh had heard her laugh in a week.

“I leaned the flower against the wall. You didn’t have enough vases, and I’d already used the pots and pans.”

Hollis laughed again, and this time, as they drove to Raleigh’s house, she took Raleigh’s hand instead of it being the other way around recently. Hollis had stayed over since that day. Raleigh preferred it. She wanted to keep an eye on her. The conversation that they’d had weeks ago with Olivia’s lawyer had been beneficial because it meant that Hollis didn’t have to deal with legalities just yet; she already knew that her mom had left the house and the old car that sat in the garage to her. Hollis would have to sell the car for parts because it hadn’t run in years. The house, though, Raleigh knew, Hollis wasn’t sure what to do with yet.

“They’ll need new water,” Hollis said.

“I bookmarked an article on sunflower growth and maintenance for you, if you want to take a look at it.”

“Maybe later,” Hollis replied.

“Can I fix you something to eat?” Raleigh asked when they pulled into her garage.

“I’m not really hungry.”

“People cooked for you,” Raleigh revealed. “I have casseroles for days in my freezer.”

“They did?” Hollis asked, looking over at her. “Mom must have told them I’m not a cook.”

“I think it’s the human way of saying that there are no words to express sorrow like this, so we send flowers and food and hope they help in some small way.”

“They sent her sunflowers, Raleigh.” Hollis gave her a half-smile.

She smiled back at her, and they went inside. Raleigh pulled out a piece of one of the pies she’d been given for Hollis in hopes that Hollis would at least eat this if nothing else. Then, she also made her a cup of tea that would help her sleep and headed to her bedroom, where she found Hollis curled up on her side, facing away from the door. Raleigh walked around to check on her and was surprised to find her not coiled up in tears but actually asleep. The first couple of nights had been rough. Hollis hadn’t slept at all, despite the sleeping pills the nurse had suggested Raleigh pick up at the drugstore. Exhaustion had finally taken her, though, and Raleigh was happy for it. She returned to the kitchen, rewrapped the pie for later, and decided to sip on the calming tea herself as she tried to get some work done.

Her office was a mess because she’d been helping Hollis with arrangements in it instead of working there, so she decided to take her computer to the living room and reach out to her clients at least, thanking them for their patience while she dealt with a loss in the family. That was all the information she’d given them, but it was important to her that she begin to share these things with them. Financially, she needed all of her clients and a couple more, but they were also good people, and she was starting to wonder if she should’ve told them about Eden from the beginning. They likely would’ve been understanding and even supportive, but it had been such a shock to her; she hadn’t known how to tell them that her work would likely suffer because her daughter was missing without making it sound like an excuse. And Raleigh didn’t want to ever use her daughter’s disappearance as an excuse.

She sent the emails she needed to and checked on Hollis, who was stirring, meaning she’d wake up soon. Raleigh unwrapped the pie, made new tea, and went back into her room, where she found Hollis with her tired eyes open.

“I brought you pie and tea, not shitty diner coffee.”

Hollis smiled at her and said, “Thank you.”

“Will you at least eat this for me?”

“Yeah,” Hollis said, sitting up.

As Raleigh passed Hollis the small plate and put the tea on the bedside table, she heard her phone ring from where she’d left it on the table in the living room.

“I’ll be right back, okay?” She kissed Hollis’s forehead.

“Raleigh?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you,” Hollis said.

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